Door-latch.



' No. 851,158. 4 'PATENTED APR. 23. 1907.

G. E. GAD'WELL.

1100 11 LATCH.

APPLIQATION FILED JUNE. 5,1906.

PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE E. OADWELL, OF BROKEN BOW, NEBRASKA,

DOOR-LATCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

-li-atenteci April 23, 1907.

Application filed June 5, 1906. Serial No. 320,907.

To a whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE E. OADWELL,.

a citizen of the United States, residing at Broken Bow, in the county of Custer and State of Nebraska, have invented a certain new and useful DoorLatch, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide a door latch of simple, durable and inexpensive construction formed of sheet metal that may be stamped out, and so constructed and arranged that it may be used to automatically look a door swinging in either direction, or a door slidingly mounted; in other words, it is my object to provide a latch that may be applied to a door or gate of any kind, and that will work equally well in any position in which it is put.

My invention consists in certain details in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of the latch, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claims and illustrated in the accom panying drawings, in which- Figure 1 shows a side elevation of a part of the door and a door frame with my improved latch thereon, designed for use in connection with a sliding door. Figure 2 shows a horizontal, sectional view of a door frame and door provided with my improved latch device adapted for swinging doors, and also showing a retaining hook in position engaging and holding the latch with the door open. Figure 3 shows a horizontal, sectional view through a door and latch to illustrate the arrangement of the spring in the latch for use in connection with swinging doors, and Figure 4 shows a sectional, perspective view of a part of a door frame and door with my improved latch device thereon adapted for use in connection with swinging doors.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, the latch is seen to be composed. of a single piece of sheet metal comprising two parallel sides 10 with the central portion thereof, between the sides, formed with the inclined faces 11, the central recess 12 between said faces and the bevelled portion 13 at the lower corner of the latch head, and the notches 14 in the sides 10 in the rear of the bevelled por tions 13. On each of the sides 10 is a knob or handle 15, a round opening 16 and a slot 17. The numeral 18 indicates a loop for limiting the up and down movement of the latch.

' In adapting the latch for use in connection with a sliding door, the operator places a pivot pin 19 through the openings 16 and through the door 20. He then forms a notch 21 in the door frame, and provides a lug 22 projecting upwardly in said notch. the door 20 moves toward the notched door frame 23, the inclined portions 13 strike upon the lug 22 and elevate the head of the latch until the lug 22 enters the notches 14, whereupon the latch will become locked. In order to release it, it is only necessary to grasp either one of the knobs 15 and elevate them, thus releasing the hook 22, and then the door may be movedlongitudinally away from the door frame.

In adapting the device for use in connection with a door arranged to swing in one or both directions, I place a projecting lug 24 on the door frame and place a pin 25 in the slots 17 I also place an extensible coil spring 26 in a notch in they door frame made to receive it, said spring engaging the inner face of the head of the latch to normally force it outwardly away from the door. Then as the door moves toward the door frame, the inclined face 11 of the latch will engage the projection 24 and force the latch toward the door until the notch 12 receives the projection 24, whereupon the door will be locked. In order to release it, it is only necessary to grasp one of the knobs 15 and move the latch toward the door, whereupon the latch will be released from the projection 24 and the door will be free to open.

In the form shown in Figure 2 of the drawings, I have shown a hook 27 arranged in position to engage the head of the latch when the door is open and to hold it in the same way as the projection 24.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, therefor is- 1. An improved latch, comprising parallel side pieces, a latch-head formed with a notch in its face, inclined sides extending from said notch outwardly in both directions to the sides of the latch, bevelled lower edges on the latch head, notches adjacent to said bevelled lower edges, and means for pivotally or slidingly supporting the latch.

2. An improved latch comprising a body portion with a head on its forward end, said head having its forward face inclined from the side of the latch forwardly and inwardly, said face formed with a notch adjacent to said Then as inclined portion, the lower edge of the face formed with an inclined portion extending downwardly and rearwardly, the body portion of the latch formed with a notch in the rear 'of said latter inclined portion.

3. An improved latch, comprising a body portion with a head on its forward end, said head having its forward face inclined from the side of the latch forwardly and inwardly,

said face formed with a notch adjacent to said inclined portion, the lower edge of the face formed with an inclined portion extendi'ng downwardly and rearwardly, the body portion of the latch formed with a notch in the rear of said latter inclined portion, said body portion also formed with a pivot pin opening and a slot.

4. An improved latch, formed of a single piece of metal and comprising straight parallel sides, the rear ends of said sides each formed with a slot and with a pivot pin opening, the central portion of the face of the latch formed with a vertical notch, the sides of the face from the notch extending outwardly and toward the body portion of the latch, the bottom of the face of theglatch'inclined downwardly and toward the body of the latch, the sides of the latch adjacent to said i latter inclined portions formed with notches,

and loops to support the forward ends of the sides.

5. An improved latch, formed of a single piece of metal and comprising straight parallel sides, the rear ends of said sides each formed with a slot. and with a pivot pin opening, the central portion of the face of the latch formed with a vertical notch, the sides of the face from the notch extending outwardly and toward the body portion of the latch, the bottom of the face of the latch inclined downwardly and toward the body of the latch, the sides of the latch adjacent to said latter inclined portions formed with notches, and loops to support the forward ends of the sides, and an extensible spring for engaging the inner face of the latch head.

GEORGE E. CADWVELL. Witnesses:

WILLIs CADWELL, D. W. AINSBERRY. 

